Officials with the Oconee County Animal Shelter are asking for volunteers to help with animals that are crowded in there.

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Lt. Mark Lyles runs the animal control unit for the Oconee County Sheriff's Office, and said more than 2,300 animals have come through the shelter since January. Lyles said nearly 1,300 of those animals were turned in by their owners.

"Within the first 10 minutes yesterday, we had seven animals come in the door surrendered," said Lyles. "We're stacking five deep in a kennel, and that's putting burdens on the officers of having the building clean, feeding the animals, and then we have to euthanize."

Lyles blames the hot weather, and hard times for all the animals coming into the shelter. He's asking for more volunteers to help care for the animals.

"If I could get more people to come up here, and walk a dog, and exercise instead of being out there in that kennel -- that would be awesome," said Lyles.

The Oconee County Humane Society is holding a volunteer orientation in the shelter's conference room at 1925 Sandifer Blvd. in Seneca on Saturday. It will be held from 12-1:30 p.m. For more information visit www.oconeehumane.org, or call 864-882-4719.